Winding tube changing mechanisms

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for automatically feeding empty tubes, separately or in groups, to bobbin holders which pivot about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the machine and embodying at least one opening device adapted to travel into and out of engagement with the machine and by which, when moved into engagement with the machine, a bobbin holder is swung upwards into a prescribed position and a bobbin lever is swung laterally outwards; at least one loading device which is adapted to move into and out of engagement with the machine and which, when it is moved out of engagement with the machine, automatically takes up an empty tube by gripping it externally on the circumference, bringing taken-up empty tube into the region between the centering plates of the bobbin holder, which is swung upwardly into the prescribed position and opened by the opening device when the loading device is moved into engagement with the machine.

United States Patent [191 Mayer et a1.

[11] 3,811,631 [451 May 21, 1974 1 WINDING TUBE CHANGING MECHANISMS [75]Inventors: Manfred Mayer,

Remscheid-Lennep; Reinhard Naydowski, Remscheid, both of Germany [73]Assignee: Barmag Barmer Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft, Wuppertal,Germany [22] Filed: July 26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 165,414

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 30, 1970 Germany 2037826[52] US. Cl. 242/18 R, 242/35.5 A [51] Int. Cl B65h 54/02 [58] Field ofSearch.. 242/18 R, 35.5 A, 35.5 R

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,753,124 7/1956 Gutermann242/18 R 3,092,340 6/1963 Furst 242/35.5 R 3,311,311 3/1967 Furst 242/18R 3,370,798 2/1968 Hagihara et a1... 242/18 R 3,552,666 1/1971 Stenmans242/35.51 R 3,563,478 2/1971 Bell 242/18 R X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,103,267 2/1968 Great Britain 242/35.5 A

Primary ExaminerJohn W. Huckert Assistant Examiner-Milton S. GersteinAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Johnston, Keil, Thompson & Shurtleff [57]ABSTRACT Apparatus for automatically feeding empty tubes, separately orin groups, to bobbin holders which pivot about a horizontal axisextending longitudinally of the machine and embodying at least oneopening device adapted to travel into and out of engagement with themachine and by which, when moved into engagement with the machine, abobbin holder is swung upwards into a prescribed position and a bobbinlever is swung laterally outwards; at least one loading device which isadapted to move into and out of engagement with the machine and which,when it is moved out of engagement with the machine, automatically takesup an empty tube by gripping it externally on the circumference,bringing taken-up empty tube into the region between the centeringplates of the bobbin holder, which is swung upwardly into the prescribedposition and opened by the opening device when the loading device ismoved into engagement with the machine.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures ATENTEMAY 2 1 m4 FIGZ \ ATTORNEYS SHEEIZHFS32 TKIIICI-I-II INVENTORS MANFRED MAYER 1 1 ATTO RNEYS 11151115011021 43', 8 1 1 ,6 3 1 sum 11 5 107 25 l l i 108 INVENTORS MAN FRED MAYERREINHARD 1 NAYDOQNSK I Q I ATTORNEYS PMENTEUMY 21 1914 SHEET 5 BF 5INVENTORS MAN FRED MAYER REINHARD NAYDOWSKI F-mk" *(i r x kw L k .M-ATTORNEYS WINDING TUBE CHANGING MECHANISMS The invention has for itsobjective the reduction of the working hours spent in attending to thewinding arrangements of textile machines by providing an apparatus whichis able to carry out entirely automatically the replacement of finishedspools by empty tubes on bobbin holders.

A further object of the invention is an apparatus which carries out theabove function quickly withou occupying a large space.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus forfeeding empty tubes, separately or in groups, to the bobbin holders oftextile machines. The bobbin holders are adapted to pivot about ahorizontal axis extending longitudinally of the machine. Each has abobbin lever, which can be swung out laterally against the force of aspring. The apparatus is adapted to travel along the front of themachine and comprises .at least one opening device which is adapted totravel into and out of engagement with the machine and by which, whenmoved into engagement with the machine, the bobbin holder is adapted tobe swung upwards into a prescribed position and the bobbin lever isadapted to be swung laterally outwards. At least one loading device isalso adapted to move into and out of engagement with the machine. Whenmoved out of engagement with the machine, it automatically takes up anempty tube by gripping it externally on the circumference. The taken-upempty tube is brought into the region between the centering plates ofthe bobbin holder, which is swung upwardly into the prescribed positionand opened by the opening device when the loading device is moved intoengagement with the machine.

The apparatus provides a swift feeding of the bobbin holder. This isachieved by the fact that, while the opening device is carrying out theopening movements, the loading device has already moved with a new emptytube to the position between the centering plates of the bobbin holder,which is swung upwardly to a prescribed height.

For textile machines having a plurality of superimposed banks of bobbinholders, it is possible in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention to simultaneously feed each of the banks of bobbin holders byhaving several feeding devices arranged one above the other, eachfeeding device comprising at least one opening device and at least oneloading device. With this construction, a separate lifting movement isavoided. By suitable coupling, a common drive means is sufficient forthe feeding arrangements disposed one above the other.

According to another embodiment of the invention for use with textilemachines having several superimposed banks of bobbins, the openingdevice and the loading device can be designed to be adjustable in heightindependently of their working movement. By this means, it is alsopossible in a simple manner for several banks of bobbins to be fed bythe same feeding arrangement.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, eachfeeding arrangement can comprise, in juxtaposition, a plurality ofidentical opening devices and a plurality of identical loading devices.This arrangement can be used in the embodiment having several feedingarrangements arranged one above the other and also with the feedingarrangement which can be raised and lowered.

In principle, it is possible for the opening devices and the loadingdevices to travel along a rectilinear path transversely of the textilemachine. For the purpose of saving space, however, it is advantageousfor the opening devices and the loading devices to be pivotable about avertical axis on a carriage which can move along the machine which is tobe fed. With this construction, the opening devices and loading devicesare brought into the opening position or loading position near themachine by horizontal pivotal movements transversely of the textilemachine.

With this type of arrangement, the empty tube magazine is preferably soarranged that the ends of the empty tubes point transversely of thetextile machine. In this way, it is possible to arrange for the emptytube magazine to be of sufficient length without thereby increasing thespace required transversely of the textile machine. Furthermore, thepivotal arrangement is especially suitable in the case where the bobbinholders are arranged to be offset inwards from the front of the textilemachine.

According to a more specific embodiment of the pivotal arrangement, itis advantageous to pivot the opening devices and the loading devicestogether by means of a common drive between an end position remote fromand an end position near to the machine in such a way that, when thefeed arrangement is pivoted towards the machine, the opening devicescarry out their opening movements and the loading devices carrying theempty tubes are moved forward into the region of the previously upwardlyswung and opened bobbin holders. When the feeding arrangement is swungaway from the machine, the empty tubes can be automatically fed to thereturned loading devices.

With this arrangement, it is possible for the empty tube magazine,arranged with its longitudinal dimension parallel to the front of thetextile machine, to be removed laterally from the front region of thatpart of the textile machine which is just about to be fed.

By this means, a very small space is required immediately in front ofthe part of the textile machine to be fed.

In a further embodiment of the invention the opening device, which isprovided with a stop for deflecting the bobbin lever upwardly andanother stop for deflecting the bobbin lever laterally and outwardly, isadjustable by means of a pivoting driver about a horizontal axis whichis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine and is adjustabletransversely with respect to the ma chine. The opening device is adaptedto be swung from a prescribed lower end position situated beneath thelowest possible position of the bobbin lever while carrying the bobbinlever into the prescribed upper position, and is movable laterally bymeans of another drive. By this construction of the opening device, itis firstly ensured that the bobbin lever and the completed bobbin isgripped in any possible pivoted position of the opening device. In thiscase, the pivoted position of the bobbin holder in relation to theassociated friction drive roller fixed rigidly to the machine frame isprescribed by the actual thickness of the completed bobbin which, incertain circumstances, as with a premature breakage of the thread, maybe very thin. Secondly it is ensured that, independently of the initialposition of the bobbin lever, the bobbin holder with its centeringplates always assumes a certain position for receiving an empty tube,

so that the movement of the loading device can be kept simple.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the opening devicecan have associated therewith a suitable discharge chute for thefinished bobbin dropping out of the opened bobbin holder. In this case,in a further embodiment of the invention the holding means for thehorizontal pivot axis of the opening device and the pivoting drivethereof are structually combined with the discharge chute. The latter isarranged on a longitudinally displaceable carraige so as to beadjustable transversely of the machine and, when the opening device isin the end position near the machine, is adjustable longitudinally ofthe latter. With this construction, the opening device is adjusted abovethe discharge chute transversely of the machine. After the openingdevice has swung the bobbin lever upwardly, simultaneously lifting thecompleted bobbin from the friction roller into the prescribed position,it is then shifted longitudinally of the machine and above the dischargechute for opening the bobbin holder.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the loading device comprisesgripper members which are of channel-like construction and support theempty tube on the casing. The gripper members have associated with therearward ends thereof a stop by means of which, as the loading device isintroduced into its end position remote from the machine, the dischargeflap of the outlet of an empty tube magazine is opened in such a waythat an empty tube drops from the outlet into the gripper members.

THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated inthe drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of part of the lower winding section of atextile machine provided with the feeding arrangement according to theinvention, the view corresponding to the section plane ll in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing thepivot bearing of the feeding arrangement according to the invention, theview corresponding to the arrow III in FIG. 2, with a differentarrangement of the horizontal conveyor;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, prespective view of a gripper device;

FIG. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through a magazine for emptytubes;

FIG. 6 shows the outlet of an empty tube magazine with a discharge flapopened by a gripper;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a vertical conveyor, which takes thecompleted bobbins from the horizontal conveyor and discharges them intoa container;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an overall plan view of the feeding mechanism on a travellingcarriage.

A textile machine, for example a double-twisting machine, is indicatedat 1. In the lower section, only partially illustrated, the textilemachine comprises winding arrangements 4 in two banks 2 and 3. Eachwinding arrangement consists essentially of a bobbin holder 6 which canswivel up and down about a horizontal shaft 5 and seves to accommodate abobbin 7, and a fixedly arranged driving roller 8, which is continuouslydriven in a manner not shown.

The bobbin holder comprises two arms 9 and 10 which, with theirrespective centering plates 11 and 12, engage the ends of the windingtube which is a hollow truncated cone. For cancelling the centeringaction, one arm 10 can be swung out laterally about a shaft 14 againstthe force of a spring 13. The same am is extended in relation to theother arm 9 to form the socalled bobbin lever, by means of which thebobbin holder is swung upwardly in order to bring the bobbin out ofcontact with the driving roller 8.

A mechanism automatically feeds the bobbin holders. The feeding unit 15comprises an underframe 16, on which are arranged a feeding mechanism17, an empty tube magazine 18 and also conveyors 19 and 124 which carryaway the finished bobbins.

The underframe consists of a frame unit 20, which is guided on the sideof the textile machine by means of two spaced grooved wheels (only one,21, is shown) engaging a guide rail 22 mounted on the textile machine,and is supported approximately centrally on the opposite side, so as toproduce a three-point mounting, by means of a wheel 23 on the floor 24.

The entire feeding mechanism 17 is arranged so that it can pivot about afixed pivot unit 25 mounted on the underframe 16. The pivotal range isthis being between the feeding position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and aposition (not shown) swung out relatively thereto by 90. Firstly themechanism 17 is provided with new empty tubes 26 from the magazine 18and secondly the complete feeding unit 15 is moved along the textilemachine.

The pivoting mechanism is to be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3. A pivot arm 27,on which the feeding mechanism 17 is arranged in a manner to bediscussed in greater detail below, is arranged to turn about a shaft 28.The turning movement is effected by a swivelling cylinder 29, the pistonrod end of which is connected at 30 to a projection 31 on the arm 27 andthe cylinder end of which is connected at 32 to an arm 33 which isrigidly connected to the pivot unit 25.

The feeding arrangement 17 is arranged to be adjustable in height on thepivot unit 25. For this purpose, a lifting cylinder 34 is arrangedinside the pivot unit 25. The cylinder end is fixed to the cover 35 ofthe pivot unit 25 and the rod end is pivotally connected at 36 to theunderside of a lifting plate 37. Arranged on the lifting plate are thesupport means for the swivelling cylinder 29 and the pivot shaft 28. Thepivot arm 27 and lifting plate 37 can be adjusted by means of the twocylinders to correspond to the position of the winding banks 2 and 3.Arranged on the underside of the lifting plate are guide rods 38, whichare displaceably guided in guide bushes 39in the cover 35. The cover 35is connected fast to the pivot unit 25 so as to turn therewith.

The feeding arrangement 17 assumes a suspended position in relation tothe pivot shaft 28. A supporting arm 40, which extends transversely ofthe pivot arm 27 and serves to support the supply mechanism 17, isoffset downwardly relative to the pivot arm 27 by means of a connectingrod 41. The arm 40 projects on both sides of the rod 41. The longerportion directed towards the textile machine in FIG. 2 serves for themounting of an opening device 42, while the oppositely directed shorterportion serves for the mounting of a loading device 43. Both devices areso constructed that simultaneously two juxtaposed bobbin holders of onebank are fed. The operation as regards the opening and loading of thetwo adjacent bobbin holders is the same.

The pivot arm 27 and pivot shaft 28 are partly supported by a rollerbearing at the bottom end of the vertical connecting rod 41. One roller80 of this bearing is shown in FIG. 3. When the feeding arrangementpivots, the pair of rollers travel downwards on the cylindrical wall ofthe pivot unit 25. The pair of rollers can have associated therewith astop which, when the arrangement is adjusted vertically, lifts the pairof rollers with the arm 41 away from the cylinder wall. In this way, anyscraping of the rollers on the wall is avoided.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement whereby the horizontal conveyor can beraised and lowered. For this purpose, the conveyor 19' is fixed by meansof its support frame 106 and a lug 107 on a supporting sleeve 108, whichcan be moved up and down on the wall 109 of the round pivot unit 25. Thelifting cylinder 34 serves for the lifting and lowering movements andcan also be adapted for the arresting action in the required position.Fixed on the bottom end of the guide rod 38 is a support ring 117. Thisalso travels upwards with the lifting plate 37 when it is raised. A bore118 in the support ring is sufficiently large for the support ring to beable to move upwards without obstructing the lifting cylinder 34. Fixedon the support ring 117 is a lug 119, which is connected to thesupporting sleeve 108 through a vertical slot 120 formed in the wall 109on that side thereof which is on one of the sides of the textilemachine, i.e., on the side situated behind the plate of the drawing.

With the arrangement of the horizontal conveyor as described, thislatter is adjusted upwards by the same distance to the bank of bobbinholders at a higher level as the vertical adjustment of the feedingmechanism 17.

A transfer section 121 of the horizontal conveyor 19' is also to be seenin FIG. 3. The transfer section is fixed beyond a discharge roller 122,which is preferably driven by means of a motor forming a structural partof or fitted into the roller, so as to project by means of side plates123 on the conveyor 106. In a manner not shown in FIG. 3, the finishedbobbin, lying on the part 122, is gripped by a vertical conveyor, whichwill hereinafter be further described.

The complete opening device 42 is supported on a discharge chute 44associated therewith, which chute in its turn is held on the support arm40 to be adjustable longitudinally of the pivot arm 27. Serving for theadjustable support are two guide rods 45 and 46, which are fixed on aside plate 47 of the chute 44 and engage through guide bushings 48 and49, which are provided on a side face 50 of the support arm 40. Arrangedon the bottom end of the face 50 is a cylinder 51, which serves for thesideways adjustment of the chute 44. The purpose of the sidewaysadjustment is explained below in conjunction with the opening device 42.

The opening device 42 comprises essentially two pivot arms 52 and 53,which each grip one side of a bobbin lever from below by means of twolateral lugs 54 and 55 and on the other side laterally outwards by meansof two abutments 56 and 57 on the free end of the lugs. With anotherarrangement which is not illustrated, in which the pivot arms gripbetween the bobbin lever and the bobbins 7, the lugs 56 and 57 can beomitted, because then the pivot amis, preferably constructed as flatmetal members, form the stop for gripping the bobbin lever laterallyoutwards.

The pivot arm 52 is rotatably mounted at 58 on the side plate 47 and thepivot arm 53 is rotatably mounted at 59 on a holding plate 60 of thechute 44. A cylinder 61, the cylinder end of which is pivoted at 62 onthe side plate 47 of the chute 44 while the piston rod end is pivoted at63 on the pivot arm 52, serves for the upward and downward swivelling ofthe pivot arm 52, and, through a connecting member 64, the pivot arm 53.

As already mentioned, the loading device 43 is arranged on that end ofthe support arm 40 which is further from the textile machine 1, and infact parallel to the opening device 42. The loading device comprises twoupwardly open grippers 65 and 66, which are interconnected by means of astirrup member 67 and, by means of a rack 68 which engages on thegripper 65, are jointly adjusted in a horizontal plane transversely ofthe pivot arm 27 towards the textile machine. The rack 68 is driven byan electric motor 69 through a pinion 70. The motor 69 is arranged on alug 71 of the pivot arm 40 which extends parallel to the pivot arm 27.This lug also comprises two guide bushings 72 and 73, through whichengage two guiding and holding rods 74 and 75 of the grippers 65 and 66.The guide rods are fixed on the gripper 65.

The grippers 65 and 66 each consist of an immovable part 76, which isadapted to the truncated cone form of the empty tube 26, and a part 77which is movable relatively thereto and which is made substantiallyshorter than the part 76 and engages around the middle of the tube 26like a clamp. The clamping part 77 is capable of swinging away from thepart 76 about a shaft 78, against the force of a spring.

For the exact introduction of the empty tubes between the centeringplates ll and 12, each gripper member has associated therewith acentering device. This consists of a wire stirrup 84, which has twohorizontally directed arms 85 and 86 which are applied from above andbelow to the large plate 11 and thereby ensure that the empty tube to beintroduced into the bobbin holder is in exact alignment with thecentering plates 11 and 12. For the easy gripping of the centering plate11, the free ends of the arms 85 and 86 of the centering stirrup 84 arebent upwards and downwards, respectively. In a manner not illustrated,the large plate 11 comprises a circumferential groove, into which arepushed the arms of the wire stirrup 84. By the cooperation of the grooveand wire stirrup arms 85 and 86, the orientation of the grippers 65 and66 is adjusted relatively to the plates 11 and 12 in a horizontaldirection.

As a result of the gripper members 65 and 66 being mounted by means oftwo leaf springs 87 on a support frame 88 constructed as an anglemember, the gripper members are able to follow the guiding of thecentering stirrup 84. The rack 68 and the guide rods 74 and engage onthe frame 88 in a manner not shown in detail. In FIG. 4, the connectingstirrup 67 is partially shown, by which the gripper member 66 is fixedon the guided and driven gripper member 65. Both gripper members can bereciprocated in the direction of the arrow 1 15.

The construction of a gripper member 65 can be seen in greater detail inFIG. 4. The empty tube is gripped between the parts 76 and 77. The clamp77 is held by means of a torsion spring 89 in the closed position. Theclamp consists of a lower gripper section 90 and an upper section 91,which serves in a manner hereafter explained for opening the clamp andprojects upwardly beyond the shoulder 81 of the gripper part 76.

In the embodiment shown, the part 76 of the gripper member consists ofseveral rectangular plates welded to one another at the longitudinalsides, while side plates 92 and 93 are welded thereon along the narrowsides. Arranged on theside plate 93 is a tube supporting plate 94serving as an auxiliary centering means for the small centering plate12. This plate consists of two parts 110 and 111 which, seen from above,abut one another at obtuse angles. The plate 94 can swivel about an axis112, which is arranged on the plate 93 at the edge thereof. The plate94, in the position shown in FIG. 4, is more especially held by atorsion spring against a stop (not shown) beneath the plate. The plate94 has associated therewith a cut-off 113 in the part 76, into which theplate 94 can more especially fit with the part 111 when the plate 94 isswung inwardly against the force of the spring.

The empty tube which is to be introduced into the bobbin holder andwhich, in the embodiment shown, is assumed to be of conical form, lieswith its larger end on the side plate 92, there being a certain spacingbetween the end and the stirrup 84. The smaller end of the empty tubelies on the plate 94 which slopes slightly upwards in the outwarddirection, and in such a way that the plate 94 projects outwardlysomewhat beyond the empty tube.

The action of the centering plate 94 is as follows: When the grippers 65and 66 are introduced between the opened bobbin holders, which are swungupwardly to the correct height, the tubes are gripped by the arms of thebobbin holder by the chute 44 being displaced towards the right in FIG.2. The plate 94 then serves as an aid to the introduction of the smallcentering plate 12 arranged to have a slight movement on the bobbinlever 10. This centering plate is first of all gripped by a downwardlysloping edge 114, is swung upwards slightly and then introduced over theplates 110 and 111 into the end of the empty tube.

The necessity of the plate 94 being able to pivot inwards is apparentwhen FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 are considered together. If the bobbin holders areopened, the grippers 65 and 66, with the empty spools lying on the sideflange 92 and the centering plate 94, are able to pass the abutments 54,56 and 55, 57 of the pivot arms 52 and 53, respectively. After theintroduction of the centering plates 11 and 12 into the empty tubes (thebobbin holders 6 and the opening device 42 then assuming the position tobe seen in FIG. 2, but with empty tubes 26 in the bobbin holders insteadof the bobbins 7 which are shown), the stops 54, 56 and 55, 57 are inthe way of the centering plates 94 with the return movement of thegrippers 65 and 66. The passing movement is, however, assured by thefact that the centering plates 94 move with the underside of the plate110 against the stops 54, 56 and 55, 57 and are temporarily swungupwards and inwards during the further movement.

The construction of the magazine 18 for the empty tubes is to be seenfrom FIG. 5. This corresponds to a construction given as an example. Thetubes 26 are accommodated in a narrow parallelelopiped box. One such boxis associated with each gripper 65 and 66. As

will be seen more especially from FIG. 9, the empty tube magazine 18consists of a base frame 150, into which can be introduced two boxes 151and 152 with the empty tubes. The outlet 83 and also a conveyorassociated with each box are components of the basic structure. In orderto accommodate the upper run of the conveyor, the bottoms of the emptytube boxes are formed with a longitudinal resess.

The distance between the two side walls of each box is such that thetubes can only slip down with slight play. As a result, they cannottwist to lie longitudinally with respect to the walls. Arranged in alongitudinal slot (not shown in detail) in the base, is the upper run ofan endless conveyor 95, which is provided at intervals with driverelements 96 and conveys in the direction of the arrow 117. Thedischarging end wall 97 is provided at the bottom end, in the region ofthe upper run of the conveyor, with a discharge opening 98, which issomewhat higher than the largest diameter of the empty tube, where aconical tube is concerned.

Arranged before the wall opening 98 is a discharge box 83. By means of asloping discharge plate 99, the tubes pushed out by the driver elements96 pass behind the closed end wall 100 of the discharge box. By downwardhinging of a discharge flap 82, one tube can fall downwards. Thedischarge flap is, for example, formed by two rods. A divider arm 101,which is pivotally mounted at 102 in a vertical plane, ensures thatalways only one tube can drop out with each opening of the dischargeflap 82.

For this purpose, the free end of the divider arm is fittedapproximately centrally into a spring 103, which serves as a returnspring for the spaced discharge rods 82 which can be swung about ahorizontal axis 104 downwardly in the opening direction. As shown inFIG. 6, the divider am 101 with the discharge flap 82 opened bears withits free end against the next tube and in this way prevents more emptytubes falling down during one filling operation. The return spring 103is arranged in the space between the two tube boxes and is connected bymeans of a horizontal rod (not shown) to the divider arms of both boxes.

The cooperation of one of the grippers 65 and 66 with the associatedempty tube magazine 18 is to be seen more clearly from FIG. 6. With theswinging back of the feeding device 17 from the position according toFIG. 2, first of all the clamp 77 bears with the part 91 against the endwall 100 of the outlet 83, the clamp being swung in the openingdirection against the force of the torsion spring 89. Meanwhile, ashoulder 81 of the gripper has engaged an opening arm 105 of the bottomflap 82. Against the force of the spring 103, the flap 82 is deflectedinto the position according to FIG. 6, so that the empty tube situatedat the front, as illustrated, passes into the gripper 65 or 66. The flap82 formed by two rods is then swung into the region between the sidecheeks 92 and 93 of the gripper. An arrow 116 indicates the direction ofmovement of the gripper in the region of the empty tube magazine 18.

It can be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8 how the completed bobbins releasedfrom the bobbin holder by means of the opening device are carried away.The completed bobbins 7 passing by way of the chute 44 (FIGS. 1 and 2)on to the horizontal conveyor 19 are initially conveyed in the directionof the arrow 128 on to the transfer section 121 fixed on the frameconstruction 106 of the conveyor 19, where they are gripped insuccession by the vertical conveyor 124 in the direction of the arrow145. For this purpose, the transfer section is so formed of freelyprojecting rods 125 which are arranged parallel to and spaced from oneanother, that a basket 126 of the vertical conveyor, which is likewisecomposed of freely projecting rods 127, is able to move upwardly fromthe region of the delivery section 121 and in this way to carry upwardlythe completed bobbin which is situated thereon.

The basket 126 is rotatable counterclockwise about a pivot 129, but inthe other direction is held nonrotatablyon a lateral projection 130 of aslide block 131. The slide block is fastened at one end on an endlessconveyor chain 132 and is accommodated at the other end by a verticallymovable slide guideway 133. The conveyor chain runs over four deflectingrollers 134 and also over a driving sprocket 136 which is driven by amotor 135. The horizontal slide guideway 133 is in its turn guidedparallel to itself so that it can be raised and lowered on to verticalguide rods 137. While the chain 132 assumes the driving function, theslide guideway 133 carried by the slide block 131 during its upward anddownward movement serves to stabilize the position of the basket 126.

A chute 138 is arranged in the region where the downward movement of thebasket 126 commences. This chute, the slope of which is preferablyadjustable, is fixed by means of a holding arm 139 on the frame 140 ofthe vertical conveyor. A rod 141 ensures that the basket tips when itstarts the downward movement according to arrow 142, whereby theconveyed bobbin 7 passes by way of the chute 138 into a container 143.The latter is preferably provided with its own running gear 144 andcoupled to the undercarriage 20 of the feeding arrangement.

FIG. 9 shows in plan view the complete feeding arrangement and a part ofa textile machine. It is possible to see the undercarriage 20 which cantravel along a textile machine, indicated by a part of a row of bobbinholders 6 with bobbins 7 which are shown. The undercarriage is mountedat three points. Provided on the machine side are the two grooved wheelsor pulleys 21, which run on a rail 22 arranged on the textile machine,and the wheel 23, which runs on the floor 24. One of the pulleys isdriven by a motor 146. The feeding arrangement 17, consisting of theopening device 42 and the loading device 43, together with the pivotcolumn 25 and the horizontal conveyor 19, occupies approximately themiddle third of the undercarriage when the feeding arranagement is inthe position swung away from the textile machine as shown in FIG. 9.Arranged in the rear third, in the half remote from the textile machine,is the magazine 18 for empty tubes. The front third is occupiedessentially by the verticlal conveyor 124 and the collecting container143 for completed bobbins in the half facing the textile machine. Theother half of the front third serves to accommodate a hydraulic controlsystem, which is not shown in detail.

Apart from the vertical conveyor 124, which projects to a greaterheight, all parts of the bobbin holder feeding arrangement are arrangedas regards height in the region of the bobbin holders. By this means, itis possible to arrange another feeding arrangement on the sameundercarriage above the feeding arrangement for the bobbin holders. Thisis advantageous, for example, in the case of a twisting machine,particularly a double- 10 twisting machine, which comprises the twistingspindles in the upper part and the bobbin holders in the lower part. Thefeeding arrangement for the spindles can be arranged above the feedingarrangement 17 for the bobbin holders and can effect the feeding of thespindles simultaneously with the replacement of the completed bobbins.Indicated at 148 and 149 are tubes which are arranged on theundercarriage and which can serve for guiding or supporting a spindlefeeding arrangement (not shown). Together with the bobbin holder feedingarrangement according to the invention, it ismore especially possible touse an arrangement for feeding spindles on textile machines, such asshown in German Patent Specification P 20 19 370.8.

The feeding arrangement operates as follows: In the position of thefeeding arrangement swung away from the textile machine 1, whichposition is not shown, the carriage 16 will travel up to two bobbinholders 6 which are to be fed. The pivot arm 27 will then be swung bymeans of the pivot cylinder 29 from a position transverse to thelongitudinal front of the textile machine 1 into a position parallelthereto. By this means, the opening device 42 is moved into itsoperating position. The pivot levers 52 and 53 assume their lowest,downwardly swung position. In this position, and with the swinging ofthe arrangement towards the textile machine, they then also pass beneaththe bobbin levers 10, when only an empty tube is disposed in the bobbinholder 6. By admission of pressure to the cylinder 61, the two bobbinholders in question, by the upward swinging of their bobbin levers 10,are now swung upwards into a prescribed position. Thereafter, byadmission of pressure to the cylinder 51, the chute 44 is adjusted inrelation to the pivot column 25. This causes the opening of the twobobbin holders through the stops 56 and 57. The bobbins 7 roll by way ofthe chute 44 on the conveyor 19, which carries them away. At this time,another side plate 47a of the chute ensures that the package dischargesin the prescribed manner.

. A baffle plate 79 arranged on the lug 71 of the support arm 40prevents the bobbins rolling beyond the conveyor.

The opening device 42 remains in the position in which it is swungupwardly into the prescribed location and is adjusted laterally. Theprescribed height corresponds to the working plane of the loading device43. By switching on the electric motor 69, the grippers and 66, eachwith an empty tube 26, are now moved horizontally by means of the rack68 and pinion 70 into the region between the centering plates 11 and 12.As soon as the tubes 26 are positioned between the centering plates,first of all the chute 44 is adjusted away from the pivot column 25. Bythis means, the centering plates are caused to engage in the two ends ofthe tubes. The tubes are now brought to bear against the driving rollers8 by lowering the levers 52 and 53. Thus, the new winding operationcommences. Before the downward movement of the levers 52 and 53, thegrippers 65 and 66 have been returned into the initial positionaccording to FIGS. 1 and 2. In this position, the clamps 77 engage underthe tubes held by the centering plates, this being against the force ofa spring.

For the movement of the arrangement for feeding the next two bobbinholders, the entire feeding arrangement 17 is swung out through awayfrom the textile machine. The grippers 65 and 66 then engage beneath theempty tube magazine 18. Hence, empty tubes are automatically broughtinto the grippers in the manner as described.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantageswill be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it isobvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages,the forms herein disclosed being preferred embodiments for the purposeof illustrating the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for feeding empty winding tubes to bobbin holders oftextile machines having on the front thereof bobbin holders withcentering plates and adapted to pivot about horizontal axes extendinglongitudinally of the machine, each bobbin holder having a bobbin leverwhich can be swung out laterally against the force of a spring, whichapparatus comprises means to move said apparatus longitudinally alongthe front of the textile machine, at least one bobbin holder openingdevice, movement means operable by drive means to move said device intoand out of engagement with a bobbin holder and pivot it upwardly aboutits horizontal axis into a first, prescribed position and also swingsaid bobbin lever laterally outwardly, at least one winding tube loadingdevice, and said loading device including means to grip an empty tubeexternally on its circumference, and means to move said last-mentionedmeans with the gripped empty tube into position between the centeringplates of the bobbin holder when the latter is swung upwardly into thefirst, prescribed position and opened by the opening device, saidopening device having a member for deflecting the bobbin lever upwardsand another member for deflecting the bobbin lever laterally andoutwards, each opening device having associated therewith a dischargechute for the discharge of a wound bobbin which drops out of an openedbobbin holder, and conveyor means at the discharge end of said chute fordeliverying the wound bobbin to a collection member, said drive meansembodying a horizontal pivot shaft and the pivoting drive therefor, thesupport for said shaft and said drive being structurally combined withthe discharge chute which is mounted on a carriage adjustably movabletransversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine, andsaid movement means embodying fluidoperated piston cylinders forpivoting said loading device into and out of engagement with themachine.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, for use with a textile machinehaving a plurality of horizontal banks of bobbin holders arranged oneabove the other, said apparatus having a plurality of said feedingdevices arranged one above the other for simultaneously feeding thebanks of bobbin holders.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, for use with a textile machinehaving several horizontal banks of bobbin holders arranged one above theother, and means for adjustably setting the height of each openingdevice and each loading device independently of their respective workingmovements toward and away from said machine.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus embodies,in juxtaposition, a plurality of like opening devices and a plurality oflike loading devices coacting in respective pairs.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, and means mounting said openingdevice and said loading device pivotally about a vertical axis on saidcarriage.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, a common drive for pivoting saidopening and loading devices together between said first position remotefrom said machine and a second position near said machine, in which thesecond position each of said opening devices engage their respectivebobbin holders and said loading devices carrying an empty tube move intothe region of the upwardly swung and opened bobbin holders, and means tofeed automatically an empty tube to said loading device when the latteris in said first position.

7. An apparatus for feeding empty winding tubes to bobbin holders oftextile machines having on the front thereof bobbin holders withcentering plates and adapted to pivot about horizontal axes extendinglongitudinally of the machine, each bobbin holder having a bobbin leverwhich can be swung out laterally against the force of a spring, whichapparatus comprises means to move said apparatus longitudinally alongthe front of the textile machine, at least one bobbin holder openingdevice, movement means to move said device into and out of engagementwith a bobbin holder and pivot it upwardly about its horizontal axisinto a first, prescribed position and also swing said bobbin leverlaterally outwardly, at least one winding tube loading device, and saidloading device including means to grip an empty tube externally on itscircumference, and means to move said last-mentioned means with thegripped empty tube into position between the centering plates of thebobbin holder when the latter is swung upwardly into the first,prescribed position and opened by the opening device, means mountingsaid opening device and said loading device pivotally about a verticalaxis on a carriage of said first-mentioned means, a common drive forpivoting said opening and loading devices together between said firstposition remote from said machine and a second position near saidmachine, in which second position each of said opening devices engagetheir respective bobbin holders and said loading devices carrying anempty tube move into the region of the upwardly swung and opened bobbinholders, and means to feed automatically an empty tube to said loadingdevice when the latter is in said first position, and said loadingdevice embodying coacting gripper members which grip an empty tube, oneof said gripper members having associated therewith means which, withthe travel of the loading device into its first position remote from themachine, causes outlet means of an empty winding tube magazine to openand permit an empty winding tube to drop through the outlet into thegripper members.

8. An apparatus for feeding empty winding tubes to bobbin holders oftextile machines having on the front thereof bobbin holders withcentering plates and adapted to pivot about horizontal axes extendinglongitudinally of the machine, each bobbin holder having a bobbin leverwhich can be swung out laterally against the force of a spring, whichapparatus comprises means to move said apparatus longitudinally alongthe front of the textile machine, at least one bobbin holder openingdevice, movement means to move said device into and out of engagementwith a bobbin holder and pivot it upwardly about its horizontal axisinto a first, prescribed position and also swing said bobbin leverlaterally outwardly, at least one winding tube loading device, and saidloading device including means to grip an empty tube externally on itscircumference, and means to move said last-mentioned means with thegripped empty tube into position between the centering plates of thebobbin holder when the latter is swung upwardly into the first,prescribed position and opened by the opening device, said bobbinholders each having a centering plate rigidly connected to an arm whichcannot be swung out laterally, and said loading device embodyingyieldably mounted tube grippers with two centering stirrups to contactthe centering plate above and below as the gripper is moved into thetube-loading position.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, said bobbin holders each having acentering plate mounted for limited movement on the arm which can beswung out laterally, said grippers on the side facing the arm which canbe swung outwardly comprising a sheet metal flap which can be pivotedupwards and inwards against the force of a spring and which serves as asupport for one end of the tube, which flap projects laterally beyondthe end of the tube and comprises a downwardly sloping discharge edge bywhich the centering plate is introduced into the end of the tube duringthe return swinging of the bobbin lever.

10. An apparatus for feeding empty winding tubes to bobbin holders oftextile machines having on the front thereof bobbin holders withcentering plates and adapted to pivot about horizontal axes extendinglongitudinally of the machine, each bobbin holder having a bobbin leverwhich can be swung out laterally against the force of a spring, whichapparatus comprises means to move said apparatus longitudinally alongthe front of the textile machine, at least one bobbin holder openingdevice, movement means to move said device into and out of engagementwith a bobbin holder and pivot it upwardly about its horizontal axisinto a first, prescribed position and also swing said bobbin leverlaterally outwardly, at least one winding tube loading device, and saidloading device including means to grip an empty tube externally on itscircumference, and means to move said last-mentioned means with thegripped empty tube into position between the centering plates of thebobbin holder when the latter is swung upwardly into the first,prescribed position and opened by the opening device, each openingdevice having associated therewith a discharge chute for the dischargeof a wound bobbin which drops out of an opened bobbin holder, andconveyor means at the discharge end of said chute for delivering thewound bobbin to a collection member, means for adjustably setting theheight of each opening device and each loading device independently oftheir respective working movements toward and away from said machine,and said conveyor means embodying a horizontal conveyor which deliversthe wound bobbins to a vertical conveyor whereby the horizontal conveyorcan be raised and lowered together with said devices,

1. An apparatus for feeding empty winding tubes to bobbin holders oftextile machines having on the front thereof bobbin holders withcentering plates and adapted to pivot about horizontal axes extendinglongitudinally of the machine, each bobbin holder having a bobbin leverwhich can be swung out laterally against the force of a spring, whichapparatus comprises means to move said apparatus longitudinally alongthe front of the textile machine, at least one bobbin holder openingdevice, movement means operable by drive means to move said device intoand out of engagement with a bobbin holder and pivot it upwardly aboutits horizontal axis into a first, prescribed position and also swingsaid bobbin lever laterally outwardly, at least one winding tube loadingdevice, and said loading device including means to grip an empty tubeexternally on its circumference, and means to move said last-mentionedmeans with the gripped empty tube into position between the centeringplates of the bobbin holder when the latter is swung upwardly into thefirst, prescribed position and opened by the opening device, saidopening device having a member for deflecting the bobbin lever upwardsand another member for deflecting the bobbin lever laterally andoutwards, each opening device having associated therewith a dischargechute for the discharge of a wound bobbin which drops out of an openedbobbin holder, and conveyor means at the discharge end of said chute fordeliverying the wound bobbin to a collection member, said drive meansembodying a horizontal pivot shaft and the pivoting drive therefor, thesupport for said shaft and said drive being structurally combined withthe discharge chute which is mounted on a carriage adjustably movabletransversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine, andsaid movement means embodying fluid-operated piston cylinders forpivoting said loading device into and out of engagement with themachine.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, for use with a textilemachine having a plurality of horizontal banks of bobbin holdersarranged one above the other, said apparatus having a plurality of saidfeeding devices arranged one above the other for simultaneously feedingthe banks of bobbin holders.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, foruse with a textile machine having several horizontal banks of bobbinholders arranged one above the other, and means for adjustably settingthe height of each opening device and each loading device independentlyof their respective working movements toward and away from said machine.4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus embodies,in juxtaposition, a plurality of like opening devices and a plurality oflike loading devices coacting in respective pairs.
 5. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, and means mounting said opening device and saidloading device pivotally about a vertical axis on said carriage.
 6. Anapparatus according to claim 5, a common drive for pivoting said openingand loading devices together between said first position remote fromsaid machine and a second position near said machine, in which thesecond position each of said opening devices engage their respectivebobbin holders and said loading devices carrying an empty tube move intothe region of the upwardly swung and opened bobbin holders, and means tofeed autoMatically an empty tube to said loading device when the latteris in said first position.
 7. An apparatus for feeding empty windingtubes to bobbin holders of textile machines having on the front thereofbobbin holders with centering plates and adapted to pivot abouthorizontal axes extending longitudinally of the machine, each bobbinholder having a bobbin lever which can be swung out laterally againstthe force of a spring, which apparatus comprises means to move saidapparatus longitudinally along the front of the textile machine, atleast one bobbin holder opening device, movement means to move saiddevice into and out of engagement with a bobbin holder and pivot itupwardly about its horizontal axis into a first, prescribed position andalso swing said bobbin lever laterally outwardly, at least one windingtube loading device, and said loading device including means to grip anempty tube externally on its circumference, and means to move saidlast-mentioned means with the gripped empty tube into position betweenthe centering plates of the bobbin holder when the latter is swungupwardly into the first, prescribed position and opened by the openingdevice, means mounting said opening device and said loading devicepivotally about a vertical axis on a carriage of said first-mentionedmeans, a common drive for pivoting said opening and loading devicestogether between said first position remote from said machine and asecond position near said machine, in which second position each of saidopening devices engage their respective bobbin holders and said loadingdevices carrying an empty tube move into the region of the upwardlyswung and opened bobbin holders, and means to feed automatically anempty tube to said loading device when the latter is in said firstposition, and said loading device embodying coacting gripper memberswhich grip an empty tube, one of said gripper members having associatedtherewith means which, with the travel of the loading device into itsfirst position remote from the machine, causes outlet means of an emptywinding tube magazine to open and permit an empty winding tube to dropthrough the outlet into the gripper members.
 8. An apparatus for feedingempty winding tubes to bobbin holders of textile machines having on thefront thereof bobbin holders with centering plates and adapted to pivotabout horizontal axes extending longitudinally of the machine, eachbobbin holder having a bobbin lever which can be swung out laterallyagainst the force of a spring, which apparatus comprises means to movesaid apparatus longitudinally along the front of the textile machine, atleast one bobbin holder opening device, movement means to move saiddevice into and out of engagement with a bobbin holder and pivot itupwardly about its horizontal axis into a first, prescribed position andalso swing said bobbin lever laterally outwardly, at least one windingtube loading device, and said loading device including means to grip anempty tube externally on its circumference, and means to move saidlast-mentioned means with the gripped empty tube into position betweenthe centering plates of the bobbin holder when the latter is swungupwardly into the first, prescribed position and opened by the openingdevice, said bobbin holders each having a centering plate rigidlyconnected to an arm which cannot be swung out laterally, and saidloading device embodying yieldably mounted tube grippers with twocentering stirrups to contact the centering plate above and below as thegripper is moved into the tube-loading position.
 9. An apparatusaccording to claim 8, said bobbin holders each having a centering platemounted for limited movement on the arm which can be swung outlaterally, said grippers on the side facing the arm which can be swungoutwardly comprising a sheet metal flap which can be pivoted upwards andinwards against the force of a spring and which serves as a support forone end of the tube, which flap projects laterally beyond the end of thetube and comprises a downwardly sloping discharge edge by which thecentering plate is introduced into the end of the tube during the returnswinging of the bobbin lever.
 10. An apparatus for feeding empty windingtubes to bobbin holders of textile machines having on the front thereofbobbin holders with centering plates and adapted to pivot abouthorizontal axes extending longitudinally of the machine, each bobbinholder having a bobbin lever which can be swung out laterally againstthe force of a spring, which apparatus comprises means to move saidapparatus longitudinally along the front of the textile machine, atleast one bobbin holder opening device, movement means to move saiddevice into and out of engagement with a bobbin holder and pivot itupwardly about its horizontal axis into a first, prescribed position andalso swing said bobbin lever laterally outwardly, at least one windingtube loading device, and said loading device including means to grip anempty tube externally on its circumference, and means to move saidlast-mentioned means with the gripped empty tube into position betweenthe centering plates of the bobbin holder when the latter is swungupwardly into the first, prescribed position and opened by the openingdevice, each opening device having associated therewith a dischargechute for the discharge of a wound bobbin which drops out of an openedbobbin holder, and conveyor means at the discharge end of said chute fordelivering the wound bobbin to a collection member, means for adjustablysetting the height of each opening device and each loading deviceindependently of their respective working movements toward and away fromsaid machine, and said conveyor means embodying a horizontal conveyorwhich delivers the wound bobbins to a vertical conveyor whereby thehorizontal conveyor can be raised and lowered together with saiddevices.